West Sound swimmers bring home titles in girls state meet
Defending Class 3A state girls swim/dive champion Bainbridge ran up against a Mercer Island juggernaut Saturday at the King County Aquatics Center in Federal Way, but the Spartans didn't let the Islanders have all the fun.
Mercer Island won nine of 12 events to set a meet record with 385 points, eclipsing the 379-point total Bainbridge posted in 2021, but the Spartans showed their mettle in the first event of the evening: the 200-yard medley relay.
Bainbridge edged Mercer Island at the wall in a time of 1 minute, 44.45 seconds. The Islanders touched at 1:44.50.
Senior Emma Solseng, who swam freestyle to anchor the Spartans' victorious relay, said Bainbridge accomplished its mission of grabbing a top-three spot — the team totaled 218 points to finish behind runner-up Bellevue (242) — while trying to enjoy themselves.
"I think the team goal was to have fun," said Solseng, who'll swim at Rutgers University after graduation. "I was really happy with how we did as a team."
Bainbridge placed second in the 400 free relay and fifth in the 200 free relay. Top individual performers for the Spartans included Solseng (7th, 50 free; 5th, 100 breaststroke); sophomore Sophie Segerson (3rd, 200 IM; 2nd, 100 breaststroke); sophomore Sammy Segerson (6th, 200 free; 4th, 500 free); and junior Kathryn Houseman (4th, 100 back).
As far as the 3A champs, Mercer Island proved unstoppable — and the Islanders were aided by the presence of three former Bainbridge Island swimmers on their roster.
Two of Mercer Island's individual wins came from sophomore Alexa McDevitt, who competed for Bainbridge last year as a freshman. She won the 200 and 500 freestyle. Two other Mercer Island freshmen — 50 free champion Clare Watson and 100 free champion Gracyn Kehoe — competed for Bainbridge Island Swim Club last year before enrolling at Mercer Island.
Central Kitsap tied for seventh place in 3A. Sophomore Aziza Meyer placed fifth in the 50 free and 100 free. The Cougars also finished third in the 200 free relay and sixth in the 200 medley relay.
In the 2A/1A state meet, Bremerton sophomore Gabbie Patti claimed the 50 free title in 24.05 seconds and placed second in the 100 backstroke (58.95).
Klahowya senior Loren Swaney was second in the 200 free and fourth in the 500 free; Klahowya senior Caley Haydu took seventh in the 50 free and 100 free; Kingston junior Lilia Manges placed eighth in the 100 free; North Kitsap junior Tiffany Lee grabbed seventh in the 100 back.
North Kitsap, which finished eighth as a team, placed sixth in the 200 free relay and fifth in the 400 free relay.
Klahowya girls soccer reaches state semifinals
Klahowya's girls soccer team punched its ticket to the Class 1A state semifinals with a 5-3 home victory over Cedar Park Christian on Saturday.
Tori Peters scored a hat trick and Ali Divano and Bailey Watland added goals for the Eagles, who led 5-0 before Cedar Park Christian responded with three goals to make things interesting.
The No. 1 seed in the tournament, Klahowya (17-1) faces No. 4 Montesano in a semifinal game Friday at Shoreline Stadium at 3 p.m. If the Eagles win, they'll face either No. 2 Seattle Academy or No. 3 Lynden Christian in the championship game on Saturday at Shoreline Stadium at 3 p.m.
More local prep sports news: State berth within reach for North Kitsap volleyball
North Kitsap volleyball grabs state berth
North Kitsap's volleyball team survived a five-set match against Olympic League foe Sequim on Saturday to earn a 2A state tournament berth.
Top seed in the West Central/Sea-King Bi-District tournament, North Kitsap (18-2) lost to No. 8 Fife in the first round to fall into the consolation bracket. The Vikings won a loser-out game against Highline 3-0 before facing Sequim in a winner-to-state, loser-out match at Sammamish High School. North Kitsap prevailed 26-24, 25-21, 25-27, 21-25, 15-9.
The Yakima Valley SunDome is hosting the 16-team 2A tournament Nov. 18-19. A state tournament seeding committees was scheduled to meet Sunday to determine matchups.
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Mercer Island girls break records in state swim meet
